I have had TMj disorder since I was about 21 (I am now 30). My symptoms included a clicking jaw, popping ears, facial pain and I was absolutely desperate. After seeing many different dentists/orthodontists, having my wisdom teeth out and lots of alternative treatments such as acupuncture and osteopathy I finallly found a TMJ specialist who recommended a 3-step treatment that I was assured was pretty straightforward. First he gave me a splint that would bring my jaw forward for about a year. Then I had arthroscopic surgery on both joints (both my discs were completely out of position still). I wore the splint for another year or so and then had braces in order to correct the bite that the splint had changed. Things were goin very well after the surgery and it has only been in the last few months that suddenly it has all gone very wrong. I am now pretty much at the end of the treatment and the pain I get is, at times, unbearable. I have a feeling that my specialist was a little over ambitious and pushed my lower teeth a bit too high up in my mouth - it feels as if i have not enough space in my mouth, if that makes sense. I have seen him a million times recently and he keeps putting blocks on my teeth then taking them on and off, on and off - I am sure this continual change is making things worse....

HAs anyone had this type of treatment? I felt very positive about is up till recently and am sure that I can get back to where I was a couple of months ago. I have completely come to terms with the fact that TMJ will always be a part of my life. But i want to aim to be at least 70% free of pain at least some of the time... Also does anyone experience numbness in their face - I have experienced this, again only recently, and it is scary - in the cheeks, under the eyebrows.

One more thing, sorry to go on! - before any of this I did have some extensive degenerative disease in my left tmj - could this be making things worse too??

thanks to all of you and good luck on all the different paths/treatment plans. I'm sure there is a way to live hopefully with this most horrible and misunderstood of diseases.....